Why do I suck at blitz?

Okay, so my classical rating is decent ... I don't really play bullet, but I get slaughtered at blitz. I'm too slow and I hang pieces every other move.

Does anyone have any tips for improving at blitz other than doing tactics? I do tactics on chess-tempo, but I like to take as much time as necessary to see the problem through to its end...I don't try to go fast.

Your main problem is that you move too slowly, especially in positions that don't require much thought. You should probably try to play bullet to train yourself to move faster. Also, for some people, their blitz skill will always lag behind their classical.

if you "hang pieces every other moves", the main answer (as you well expect) is to do more tactics. chess is largely about pattern recognition, and if you're dropping pieces, it's likely that the patterns aren't firm and automatic in your head.

the obvious aside, a focus on endgame can give your blitz a surprising boost. if you play jose-raul-style with an eye toward the endgame, and your endgame technique is established...you'll find a healthy amount of wins against players that have no idea what they're doing in the endgame.

I don't quite get used to the 'timing' of blitz: I know how to play slowly (rapid/classical) and fast (bullet), but not in-between…

Yeah, I think 'timing' is very important in blitz. In classical you think about every move, in bullet you snap out moves as accurate as possible (just in general). In blitz you have just enough time that the quality of your moves matters a lot more in comparison to bullet; you can easily be punished for mistakes that you could get away with in bullet. On the other hand, if you spend your time wrong on moves that shouldn't require much thought, flagging is very real.

Course I'm bad at blitz too, so take my words with as much salt as you like

Play only 1 opening with white and 1 with black. That way you get very familiar with the openings and the positions that they lead to. This enables you to play fast in the beginning parts of the game.

I would also recommend playing bullet to find the "turbo charged" state of mind needed for fast play. I used to play bullet for hours while listening to Darude's Sandstorm, give it a try :D

@bog601 #1
First of all : It is fine & okay to be slow. Better to be a slow chess master than a lightning fast but weak patzer.

Try my approach : Play slow time control for the serious business (Trophies, money, fame), and play blitz ... for fun !

Try committing to a goal of a few fun blitz games per week, or per day (depending on how much you play).

And ... keep playing.
Many years ago I played countless hours and hours of otb blitz with fellow chess club members, equal and stronger ones. I learned a lot from that, chess skills and some blitz speed.

Keep playing, study, train, share, improve, and have fun ! :)

Anyway, blitz ratings are lower than classical for most people

I think you should have around 1800 in blitz.